Alex Salmond runs up white flag to Tartan Army

ALEX Salmond was last night accused of running scared of Scotland’s football fans – the famous Tartan Army.

Salmond will not be attending next month's match between England and Scotland at Wembley

The claim was made after it emerged he is not going to next month’s historic England v Scotland match at Wembley. It will be the first meeting of the two national soccer teams since 1999.

The First Minister, a keen football fan, has been at a number of high-profile sporting events, including Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph which led to his controversial Saltire-waving moment.

But yesterday it emerged that the SNP leader will not be at the clash of the two oldest international footballing rivals.

The game is being held to celebrate the FA’s 150th anniversary.

Mr Salmond and his administration have faced an angry backlash among some supporters who have claimed they have been victimised by police under anti-bigotry laws.

Some lawyers have also criticised the “robust tactics” of police using the Offensive Behaviour at Football legislation and claimed it is having a negative impact on the national game.

Mr Salmond was loudly booed by sections of the crowd on live TV in Glasgow’s George Square last September when Scottish medal winners from the GB Olympics team were welcomed home.

And the First Minister was jeered at the Ryder Cup in Chicago last year when accepting the tournament on behalf of Gleneagles in 2014.

There were also claims, that were disputed, that he was booed by the Tartan Army at Hampden in 2008 during Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Croatia.

Labour sports spokeswoman Patricia Ferguson said: “Alex Salmond has been booed at Hampden, the Ryder Cup and the Olympics celebrations at George Square and embarrassed himself at Wimbledon with his flag-waving antics. With that record, it’s no surprise he is staying away from Wembley.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Of course the First Minister will have a busy diary but fresh from his humiliating flag-waving at Wimbledon, he perhaps fears a hostile reception from all sides of the ground.”

Alex Salmond has been booed at Hampden, the Ryder Cup and the Olympics celebrations at George Square and embarrassed himself at Wimbledon with his flag-waving antics

Patricia Ferguson

The friendly, on Wednesday, August 14, will be the first match between the two sides since the 1999 Euro play-off leg at the old Wembley stadium, which Scotland won 1-0. Mr Salmond attended that game, as did the current Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskil.

But Mr MacAskill did not see the game as he had been arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. He was later released without charge and described the incident as a “misunderstanding”.

Mr Salmond’s spokesman said there was “no particular reason” why the First Minister would not be at Wembley. But it was suggested that he was staying away because the match is a “friendly” rather than a competitive game.

The spokesman said: “He can’t go to everything. There are definitely no plans for the First Minister to go. I don’t expect that to change.”